Atlanta Irish Music School

Irish Music for Kids, Teens & Adults

Katherine Irwin Thomas: School Director, Ceili Band


Katherine Irwin Thomas holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree, a Masters of Education degree and her TTCT certification, an Irish traditional music teaching certificate for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Dublin, Ireland.   A seven year orchestra teacher for the Cobb County Schools, Katherine specializes in Irish Fiddle, Beginning Concertina and Ceili Band ensemble. She's taught Irish fiddle for The American String Teachers of America (ASTA) Fiddle Camp in Georgia, Emory University's String Camp, The Georgia Celtic Camp, Scoil Rince De Danaan in British Columbia and at several local Middle and High Schools as a guest artist. Katherine started the Atlanta Junior Ceili Band in the spring of 2006 and is excited about it's growth and success.   She current plays with traditional Irish band, Music in the Glen.


Private Irish fiddle lessons are available. www.irwinthomafiddle.com.




Classes: Concertina, Ceili Band Beginner, Ceili Band Intermediate, Ceili Band Advanced


Click here to email Katherine.






Gary White: Whistle


Gary White's interest in Irish music began when his daughter took up Irish Step dancing and he became a "Feis Dad."  He has been playing the Uilleann pipes since 2003 and the Whistle since 2001.  A former instructor for telecommunications classes, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and has taught Whistle workshops at Feisanna.  Gary is a founder of the South East Uilleann Piper's Club and organizes the Atlanta Tionol.  Gary has taken classes at Willie Clancy Week, multiple Tionols, Boston College's Gaelic Roots, and Swannanoa.  For questions regarding whistle or for private lessons, please email Gary.

Classes: Absolute Beginner Irish Whistle Child, Absolute Beginner Irish Whistle Adult, Beginner Irish Whistle Adult Level II

Click here to email Gary.



Jessica Sherwood: Flute


A classically trained flutist, Jessica Peek Sherwood has pursued an interest in the study of flute traditions from other cultures since college.  She attended the Boxwood Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada, for two summers.  At Boxwood, she worked with Irish flutists such as Chris Norman, Cathal McConnell, Patrick O’Gorman, and Rod Garnett.  She currently is a member of the Fr. O’Reilly Ceili Band.  In addition to her work with the Irish flute, she has studied other flutes and whistles from around the world, including those of Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, and Native America.

Jessica has been active in sharing her musical interests with students of all ages.  She performed as a Young Audiences Artist from 2001 to 2004, introducing students to the science of music and to ethnic music from Asian and African cultures.  She is the director and coach of the wind chamber music program of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra in Kennesaw, Georgia.  She has served on the faculties of the Flint Institute of Music (Flint, Michigan) and the Neighborhood Music Schools (a division of Georgia State University), where she taught flute lessons as well as coached the flute choir and chamber music programs.  She currently teaches a large studio of private flute students.

An active free-lance musician, Jessica has performed with the Atlanta, Alabama, Columbus, and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Atlanta Opera Orchestra.  Jessica is a founding member of Sonic Generator—a new music ensemble-in-residence at Georgia Tech specializing in electro-acoustic contemporary music.  Additionally, she is a frequent performer with Thamyris New Music Ensemble.

Classes: Irish Flute Beginner Child, Irish Flute Intermediate Child, Irish Flute Adult

Click here to email Jessica.




Kimerbly Barnes: Irish Fiddle



Kimberly Barnes holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory in Ohio, and a Master of Music in Performance from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.  Kim attended the University of Limerick's Blas Program as well as Willie Clancy Summer School in 2003.  Since then, Kim has taught Celtic fiddle at Vanderbilt, Belmont and Western Kentucky University and has traveled with the Ric Blair Band playing Irish fiddle across the East coast.

Classes: Irish Fiddle all levels

Click here to email Kim.






Susan Moran: Celtic Song


Susan Moran has been singing since childhood. At the age of 10 Susan was accepted into the Atlanta Young Singers of Callenwolde (www.aysc.org). After six prosperous years, including several European and North American tours, she graduated into Atlanta Youth Chorale where she continued to train and tour for the next 3 years. During this time, she began Irish step dancing with the Cregan O'Brien School where she qualified for The Worlds; continuing to dance competitively for six years. Susan is currently the lead singer of Atlanta traditional Irish band, Music in the Glen. Susan is always excited to share her love of Irish and Celtic song.

Classes: Celtic Song, singing in Irish and English all levels

Click here to email Susan.










Tim Hogan: Bodhran

Tim Hogan received a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education and a master’s degree in Higher Education from Ohio University. Tim has been playing bodhràn since 1994 for numerous weddings, dances, and festivals in Athens, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, Tim played bodhràn on Michael Cooney’s 2003 album “A Stone’s Throw.”  He and his band, The Boys of the Hock will be performing this year at the 2008 Dublin Irish Festival, the second largest Irish festival in the United States.  Tim has taught bodhràn at the Dahlonega Celtic Music Festival, and Ceili dancing at the Dance Factory and Moving Parts Studio and for Ohio University. Tim is also an accomplished Ceili Dance caller. Tim’s interest in Irish music and dance began as a child while he learned and competed in Irish Step dancing.


Classes: Bodhran all levels


Click here to email Tim.